OPTICAL CHARACTER READER

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an OCR(optical character reader) which makes an accurate color decision without being affected by the relative output level difference of a color image sensor and surely removes dropout colors. SOLUTION: Color signals rd, gr, and b1 of red, green, and blue are supplied to color decision parts 31-34 and a maximum detection part 35. The color decision parts 31-34 make color decisions on the basis of reference values of mutually different classes. The maximum value detection part 35 detects a maximum value max among the color signals and a peak detection part 50 detects a peak value peak from the maximum value max. A level decision part 60 decides the class of a color signal level from the peak value peak and supplies a decision result csel to a color information selection part 40. The color information selection part 40 selects a color decision result bsel corresponding to the color signal level out of color decision results c11-c14 outputted from the color decision parts 31-34. A luminance signal selection part 90 selects and outputs a luminance signal bw according to the selected color decision result bsel.